Disclosures about Segments (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) reporting_unit	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 13, 2016 USD ($)
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,370,893	$ 1,496,736	$ 1,181,907
Other operations	180,524	182,832	82,332
Affiliate revenue	0	0	0
Electric customer credits	(53,271)	(39,963)	(33,195)
Operating revenue, net	1,498,146	1,639,605	1,231,044
Net income	122,300	152,665	94,437
Add: Depreciation and amortization	232,229	228,921	180,094
Less: Interest income	3,948	6,090	6,073
Add: Interest charges	137,864	141,309	126,642
Add: Federal and state income tax expense	35,718	43,165	29,382
Add: Other corporate costs and noncash items	1,633	2,153	22,019
EBITDA	525,796	562,123	446,501
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	390,013	323,791	291,061
Equity investment in investee	9,072	17,072	18,172
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797	$ 1,490,000
Total segment assets	7,725,569	7,476,298	6,436,814
Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	$ (25,600)	(24,273)	(9,680)
CLECO POWER
Revenue
Number of reporting units | reporting_unit	1
TOTAL SEGMENTS
Revenue
Electric operations	$ 1,380,573	1,506,417	1,191,587
Other operations	186,984	190,301	82,330
Affiliate revenue	5,360	3,233	874
Electric customer credits	(53,272)	(39,963)	(33,195)
Operating revenue, net	1,519,645	1,659,988	1,241,596
Net income	186,147	217,673	162,257
Add: Depreciation and amortization	214,170	210,936	162,069
Less: Interest income	3,635	5,731	5,052
Add: Interest charges	73,235	71,314	71,303
Add: Federal and state income tax expense	55,879	67,931	55,924
EBITDA	525,796	562,123
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	386,962	323,136	289,153
Equity investment in investee	9,072	17,072	18,172
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797
Total segment assets	7,286,756	6,978,918	5,839,853
TOTAL SEGMENTS | CLECO POWER
Revenue
Electric operations	1,015,018	1,130,928	1,191,587
Other operations	65,237	72,833	82,330
Affiliate revenue	5,156	3,125	874
Electric customer credits	(53,119)	(38,516)	(33,195)
Operating revenue, net	1,032,292	1,168,370	1,241,596
Net income	96,655	148,262	162,257
Add: Depreciation and amortization	166,987	172,471	162,069
Less: Interest income	3,362	4,744	5,052
Add: Interest charges	73,985	71,279	71,303
Add: Federal and state income tax expense	26,799	45,452	55,924
EBITDA	361,064	432,720	446,501
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	378,042	313,962	289,153
Equity investment in investee	9,072	17,072	18,172
Goodwill	1,490,797	1,490,797	1,490,797
Total segment assets	6,256,944	5,967,327	5,839,853
TOTAL SEGMENTS | Cleco Cajun
Revenue
Electric operations	365,555	375,489
Other operations	121,747	117,468
Affiliate revenue	204	108
Electric customer credits	(153)	(1,447)
Operating revenue, net	487,353	491,618
Net income	89,492	69,411
Add: Depreciation and amortization	47,183	38,465
Less: Interest income	273	987
Add: Interest charges	(750)	35
Add: Federal and state income tax expense	29,080	22,479
EBITDA	164,732	129,403
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	8,920	9,174
Equity investment in investee	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Total segment assets	1,029,812	1,011,591
Amortization of deferred lease income	(9,200)	(8,400)
TOTAL SEGMENTS | Cleco Cajun | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets and liabilities	12,400	11,400
OTHER
Revenue
Electric operations	(9,680)	(9,680)	(9,680)
Other operations	3	2	2
Affiliate revenue	129,126	109,067	74,591
Electric customer credits	0	0	0
Operating revenue, net	119,449	99,389	64,913
Net income	(63,848)	(65,009)	(67,819)
Add: Depreciation and amortization	18,059	17,985	18,024
Less: Interest income	412	974	1,338
Add: Interest charges	64,728	70,611	55,659
Add: Federal and state income tax expense	(20,160)	(24,766)	(26,541)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	3,051	655	1,908
Equity investment in investee	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	595,217	546,096	633,756
OTHER | CLECO POWER | Power supply agreements
Revenue
Amortization of intangible assets	9,700	(9,700)	(9,700)
ELIMINATIONS
Revenue
Electric operations	0	(1)	0
Other operations	(6,463)	(7,471)	0
Affiliate revenue	(134,486)	(112,300)	(75,465)
Electric customer credits	1	0	0
Operating revenue, net	(140,948)	(119,772)	(75,465)
Net income	1	1	(1)
Add: Depreciation and amortization	0	0	1
Less: Interest income	(99)	(615)	(317)
Add: Interest charges	(99)	(616)	(320)
Add: Federal and state income tax expense	(1)	0	(1)
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	0	0	0
Equity investment in investee	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0
Total segment assets	$ (156,404)	$ (48,716)	$ (36,795)